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WALT ON-LE- DALE URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL

REPORT

OF THE

MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH

for the Year ending 31st December, 1950

WALTON-LE-DALE URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL

REPORT

OF THE

MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH

for the Year ending 31st December, 1950

Printed by Frank Coupe & Co. Ltd., Walton-le-Dale, Preston.

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2018 with funding from
Wellcome Library

https://archive.org/details/b30231644

PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT,

COUNCIL OFFICES,

BAMBER BRIDGE.

REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH

for the Year ending 31st December, 1950.

To the Chairman and Members of the Council.

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have the honour to present the you my Annual Report upon the health of the District for the
year ending 31st December, 1950.

Last year I dealt at some length with the alterations which had taken place in the structure of
Local Government and had indicated how those changes had been applied locally during the previous
decade of years, so it will not be necessary to repeat those details in the present report.

It should, however, be emphasised that under the new arrangements much of the information given
in these Annual Reports in former years is no longer available. This is unfortunate because it prevents a
full picture of the health, and of the uses made of the facilities to improve health, being presented. Many
of these statistics are now supplied direct to the Health Divisions and are apparently not now easily available
to the district concerned. Pathological reports from the Hospital Laboratories which formerly were paid
for by the district are not now supplied to that district except in epidemiology cases, i.e., Infectious
Diseases and Food Poisoning. The information also about cases of Tuberculosis was very incomplete
throughout the year but new methods, corresponding to those in force before the Act came into operation,
will remedy this defect in the future. The figures available upon the amount of illness in the district are
so meagre that it would be impossible to base any scientific conclusion upon them even in a general way.

With a view however to obtaining some assessment of the amount of sickness prevalent in the insured
portion of the population an approach was made to the local branch of the Ministry of National Insurance
to obtain if possible some of these statistics. A grateful acknowledgement must be made to the Manager of
the local branch of National Insurance for these figures which did give an idea of the days lost through
illness or injury and which will be found in detail in the Report. Additionally from the Sickness Survey
Report for 1950 issued by the Registrar-General information has been obtained which, by virtue that
they are based upon the large figures from the whole country, can be accepted as reasonably accurate.
They give an indication of the amount of sickness present and some expectation of the health of any
district. This forms a new section of this Annual Report.

Weather conditions, so important to the health — physical and mental of the population, are given
in another new section.

Another new addition to the Report is that of the Surveyor (Mr. Race), who has provided a survey
which is appended, of those amenities of the district which during the year have been extended, improved
or maintained and which are so necessary to preserve the health of body and mind of any district.

In the body of this Report, moreover, will be found those statistics supplied by the Registrar-
General and by the County Public Health Department which deal with Births, Deaths and the sectionalised
mortality figures. It will be observed in the Registrar-General’s statistics that he has reintroduced the
comparability factors for birth rates and death rates. These factors were not issued during the war. They

enable corrected figures to be established for this district, for sex and age composition which can be
compared on equal terms with any other district in the Country.

The Birth Rate showed a decrease upon the previous year and the Death Rate was also lower.
The death rate from Pulmonary Tuberculosis also showed a decrease. The Infantile Mortality Rate again
reached a record low level and there were no deaths connected with childbirth.

On the whole the health of the District was satisfactory in 1950. Measles of a mild type but highly
infectious, again infected large numbers of children towards the end of the year. This was part of a wide
spread epidemic affecting the Northern Counties. Whooping Cough also was prevalent but of a mild type.
Both these diseases of late years have tended to become milder in type and no longer to cause the large
number of deaths which was so characteristic of similar epidemics in the past. Scarlet Fever produced a
number of cases of a mild type of disease, sporadic in distribution and never in epidemic form. The
number of cases was about average. There were no cases of Diphtheria and none of Poliomyelitis. There
was a small outbreak of Food Poisoning causing illness of a mild type and a transient character. The low
temperatures of the summer of 1950 undoubtedly reduced the number of cases of Food Poisoning. Many
cases are never reported, especially when they occur singly.

It must again be stressed that the quality of food supplied to the community is inferior to that of
before the war, and constant vigilance must be exercised to prevent the occurrence of outbreaks of food
poisoning. The new Byelaws add to the armentarium of the Health Department in this respect, but they
still provide insufficient powers of control. The education of those who handle food in hygienic methods
is a prime necessity.

All the environmental services of the Health Department have been continued throughout the year.
The supervision over the bacterial quality of milk supplied to the district was constant, and the progress
made in this respect in past years maintained.

The supervision of the production of milk at the farms, now no longer under the jurisdiction of
the local authority, so far as information went, was not carried out with the same diligence as in former
years.

The table of five decades is again provided and brought up to date.

Mention must also be made of the action of the Council to obtain By-laws to ensure the better
control of smoke emission. It is hoped that these will be approved in the course of 1951.

The provision of new houses of suitable types is still lagging behind the demand, not through any
lack of initiative or drive on the part of the Council but through the meagreness of the quota allocated by
the Ministry.

Physical Characteristics of the Area

The district is quadrangular in shape with an average width East to West of 3J miles, and a length
North to South of 2\ miles. There is a gentle slope from South East to South West. In the South East
the height above sea level is 80 feet, falling in the North West to 23 feet above the same level.

About two miles of the northern boundary is formed by the River Ribble. This part of the river
is tidal in almost all of its length.

The River Darwen flowing through a valley in the northern part of the district, joins the Ribble
at the North Western Boundary of the area.

Geologically the district lies on Triassic sandstone upon which are placed a Lower Clay Layer,
a layer of Drift Sand and an Upper Boulder Clay Layer. The base of rock forms an inclined plane which
dips downwards towards the sea. Outcrops of this rock are found in beds of the Ribble and Darwen.
In the Boulder Clay Layers stones are found of varying sizes, which are mainly of Lakeland origin. In

the Drift Sand layer deposits of gravel are found. The layers of the Glacial Drift fill the valleys, but the
hill tops are usually free of Drift.

The thickness of the various layers varies in different parts of the district ; towards the western
side the three layers approximate 100 feet in thickness, but in most parts of the district the Upper Boulder
Clay is 10 feet, the Drift Sand 9 feet, and the Lower Boulder Clay 2 feet upwards.

The island formed between the two rivers contains large alluvial deposits which provides a rich
soil for market gardening.

Social Conditions and Amenities of the Area

The district is partly industrial and partly residential. The industries are cotton manufacture,
engineering, market gardening, dairy farming, and corn milling.

In the area there are eleven churches, covering most types of religion, and attached to these churches
are Sunday Schools, and in many cases Church Halls. In these halls particularly in the winter months,
are held lectures, concerts, dramatic society meetings, plays, and in most cases dances.

There are nine clubs in the district, some political, some religious, and others non-sectarian, where
games of a competitive character can be played such as billiards, darts, dominoes, etc. A tennis club, a
table tennis club and a cricket club also are established in the area.

On the playing fields, five in number, football and cricket can be played in the proper season, and
there are three football clubs.

A Dramatic Society encourages the arts in the district and there is quite a flourishing Debating
Society.

To encourage and to improve the mind still further, there is a County Council Library with four
branches dispersed throughout the district.

Meteorological Conditions

I am indebted to Dr. Barocas of the Jeremiah Horrocks’ Observatory, Preston, for these statistics.

The year 1950 was one of the wettest, if not the wettest, of recent years. The total rainfall was
45.75 inches, the average being 37.58 inches, thus recording 8.17 inches more than usual. August
was the wettest month of the year with 7.98 inches of rain which fell on 20 days in that month and this was
followed by 6.78 inches in September with 27 rain days. March and May were the two dry months of
the year with 1.63 inches falling on 15 days and 1.47 inches on 1 1 days respectively. February and November
were also wet months. The greatest rainfall on any one day was 1.34 inches on August 20th. Altogether
rain fell on 218 days and of these 171 were really wet.

Most of the rain in this district was brought by winds from the South, South West and West which
were prevalent on 81, 76 and 45 days in the year respectively. From the North, North West and North
East winds came on 14, 40 and 26 days. Easterly and South Easterly winds were present on 33 and 35
days respectively.

There were only 15 calm days (i.e. without wind) in the year and these were in October, November
and December, the common months for fog.

Table of Weather Summary, 1950

Month

Rainfall

Inches

Number of
Rain Days

Sunshine

Hours

Prevailing
Wind Days

January .

2.42

9.0

S.E. 9

February .

4.47

53.5

S. 12

March .

1.63

92.8

S. 7 W. 7

April .

3.23

142.5

N.W. 8

May .

1.47

191.0

N.E. 13

June .

2.43

198.9

S.W. 9

July .

3.55

172.5

S.W. 9

August .

7.98

139.1

S. 14

September .

6.78

86.7

S.W. 11

October .

3.10

74.8

S.W. 9

November ... .

5.39

46.7

N.W. 7

December .

3.30

31.3

S.W. 6

rF Afplc

JL V/ LCli O • e • ••• ••• • • •

45.75

218

1248.8

—

The Hutton Meteorological Station have kindly supplied certain of these figures.

Statistics

Area in Acres . 4,761

Population (census 1931) . 12,718

Registrar General’s estimate of resident population (mid 1950) ... 14,900

Number of inhabited houses (census 1931) . 3,314

Number of inhabited houses (rate book 1950) . 4,472

Rateable Value . £70,857

Sum represented by a Penny Rate . £280

Vital Statistics

Live Births : — Male Female Total

Legitimate . 128 100 228

Illegitimate . 5 — 5

Total . 133 100 233

Birth rate per 1,000 estimated population (mid 1950) crude . 15.6

Birth rate per 1,000 estimated population (mid 1950) adjusted ... 15.0

Still Births : —

Legitimate . . .

Illegitimate ...

T rvtp] __ O 9

X v/ LCU ••• • » • ••• ••• ••• ^

Rate per 1,000 total (live and still) births . 9

Comparability factor for births . ' . 0.96

Male Female Total

Deaths of Infants under one year of age : — Male Female Total

Legitimate . 4 1 5

Illegitimate . — — —

Total

4 1 5

Deaths of Infants under four weeks of age ( Neo-natal deaths ) : —

Male Female Total

Legitimate . 1 1 2,

Illegitimate . — — —

T otal ... ... ... ... ... 1 1 2

Death rate of Infants under one year of age : —

Infantile Mortality —

All Infants per 1,000 live births .

Legitimate Infants per 1,000 legitimate live births
Illegitimate Infants per 1,000 illegitimate live births
Neo-Natal Mortality —

Deaths of Infants under four weeks of age
Mortality rate per 1,000 live births .

... 21
... 22
... Nil

... 2
... 9

Deaths : — Male Female Total

77 73 150

Death rate per 1,000 estimated population (mid 1950) crude ... ... 10.1

Death rate per 1,000 estimated population (mid 1950) adjusted ... 11.1

Comparability factor for deaths . . . 1.10

Maternal Mortality

Deaths from pregnancy, childbirth and abortion
Mortality rate per 1,000 total (live and still) births

Death rate per 1,000 population from Cancer .

Death rate per 1,000 population from Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Deaths from Diarrhoea (under 2 years of age) .

... Nil
... Nil
... 1.27

... 0.13

... Nil

Comparative Table.

Per 1000 of Population

Maternal Mortality Rate

Infantile

Mortality

Rate

Live

Birth

Rate

Crude

Death

Rate

Death Rate
from Pulmonary
Tuberculosis

Death Rate
from
Cancer

Per 1000
Live
Births

Per 1000 Total
Live and

Still Births

Of 5 years, 1945-1949

18.3

11.8

0.27

1.79

3.11

3.02

Year 1949 .

17.3

10.3

0.20

1.49

7.84

7.63

Year 1950 .

15.6

10.1

0.13

1.27

Nil

Increase or decrease in 1950
On 5 years average 1945-1949

— 2.7

—1.7

—0.14

— 0.52

—3.11

—3.02

—23

Previous Year .

—1.7

—0.2

—0.07

—0.22

—7.84

—7.63

—3

Lancashire .

15.1

12.8

0.28

1.97

1.04

1.01

England and Wales .

15.8

11.6

0.32

1.95

—

0.86

Comment has already been made upon these statistics but the fall in the Infantile Mortality Rate
is remarkable, it can only be attributed to years of hard work at the Welfare Centres where correct methods
of baby management have been taught and the young mothers of today are benefiting from what their
mothers learnt at those Centres in the past.

A table analysing the causes of death in 1950 is given below : —

Analysis of Causes of Death, 1950

Diseases of the Heart —

Male

Female

Total

Coronary Disease — Angina ...

... 15

Hypertension with Heart Disease

... 1

Other Heart Diseases ...

... 16

Diseases of the Circulation (other)

... 1

Vascular Lesions of Nervous System .

... 8

Bronchitis

... 8

Pneumonia ... ... ... .

... 2

Other Respiratory Diseases

... 2

Pulmonary Tuberculosis ...

. . . —

Malignant Diseases (all sites)

... 5

Diabetes . . .

. . . —

Ulcer of Stomach and Duodenum .

... 3

—

Gastritis, Enteritis and Diarrhoea .

... 2

Nephritis and Nephrosis ...

... 1

Hyperplasia of Prostate

... 2

—

Congenital Malformations ... .

... 1

Other Infective and Parasitic Diseases

. . . —

Other defined and ill-defined Diseases ...

... 7

Motor Vehicle Accidents ... ... . .

... 1

—

All other Accidents .

... 1

Suicide

... 1

77 73 150

As a matter of interest 94 of these deaths occurred in persons over the age of 65, of whom 41 were
male and 53 female. Two of the females reached the age of 95 and 97 respectively.

A Table is given below showing some comparative figures over the last sixty years.

Six decades

are given.

Tables of Six Decades.

Per 1000 Population

Enteric Fever

Diphtheria

Scarlet Fever

Deaths

from

Diarrhoea

Infantile

Mortality

Rate

Period

Phthisis

Death

Rate

Birth

Rate

Death

Rate

Cases

Deaths

Cases

Deaths

Cases

Deaths

Ten Years
1891-1900

30.8

18.9

1.25

133

211

122

188

1901-1910

26.3

14.7

0.95

116

291

128

1911-1920

18.7

13.7

0.91

166

565

107

1921-1930

16.0

12.0

0.72

310

1931-1940

14.0

12.7

0.44

414

1941-1950

16.5

12.28

0,33

280

Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Comment has already been made upon the decreased death rate
from this type of the disease. There were no deaths from Non-pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Bronchitis and Pneumonia. The number of deaths from both these causes showed a decrease
upon those of the previous year.

Cancer. Fewer deaths occurred from this group of diseases than in 1949. There has been an
alteration in the classification of these diseases which renders scientific comparison difficult.

Other Causes of Death. Diseases of the Heart again produced the largest number of deaths.
The large number of fatalities from Coronary Diseases is not without significance in these days of stress
and strain.

Infantile Mortality. Five deaths occurred as compared with six in the previous year giving once
again a record low rate of mortality. Even of those deaths two would appear to have been preventable.

1950

Cause of Death

Under

1 week

1-2

weeks

2-3

weeks

3-4

weeks

4 weeks

to 3

months

3-6

months

6-9

months

9-12

months

Total

deaths

under

year

Acute Gastritis...

Spina Bifida

—

Lobar pneumonia

—

Prematurity

—

— —

—

Total

—

— -

—

Maternal Mortality. There were no deaths connected with pregnancy.

GENERAL PROVISIONS OF HEALTH SERVICES OF THE AREA.

Public Health Staff

Medical Officer of Health
Other Appointments ...

Chief Sanitary Inspector

Other Appointments .

Additional Sanitary Inspector

Public Vaccinator .

Certifying Factory Surgeon ...

G. G. Wray, M.D., Ch.B., D.P.H.

M.O.H., Fulwood U.D.C.

Nicholas Baron, Cs.R.San.I., A.M.Ints.P.C.
Cleansing Superintendent.

G. N. Corbishley, Cs.R.San.I., M.S.I.A.
Dr. Howard, Penwortham.

Dr. Logan, Leven House, Bamber Bridge.

County Council Services in the Area
Midwifery Service

Two midwives were employed
numbers were : —

Mrs. Dobbie,

Chorley Road,

Bamber Bridge.

wholetime in this area. Their names, addresses and telephone

Miss A. J. Scandrett,

Beauthorn, Higher Walton Road,

Walton-le-Dale.

Tel. 85280.

Tel. 4783.

Ambulance Service

A station in the buildings of the Urban District Council was employed. One ambulance and one
sitting case car were sited there.

According to the Annual Report of the Divisional Medical Officer 491 emergencies, 4,152 general
cases and 40 infectious diseases were carried. As the vehicles at this station cover parts of the Rural
Districts around the Urban District and are used for conveying patients from other areas as well, the
numbers given above are not indicative of the ambulance requirements of the Urban District.

Domiciliary Nursing Service

Three nurses were employed in the area to carry out the duties. The number of visits made and
the amount of work carried out by these nurses increased during the year under review by almost twenty
per cent.

Ante-Natal Clinic

Meetings were held fortnightly at the School Clinic in Brindle Road, Bamber Bridge. Examinations
were made, advice given, and treatment where necessary, under the guidance of Mr. Wiseman, specialist
from the Maternity Section of Preston Royal Infirmary.

Cases of disproportion, unsuitable home conditions, or for other causes were admitted to the
Maternity Hospitals at Preston Royal Infirmary or Sharoe Green Hospital.

Twenty-four sessions were held, 78 mothers attended on 251 occasions.

Where mothers required dental treatment this was given by the School Dentist at the Clinic.

After parturition mothers who required further advice or medical attention attended at the Ante-
Natal Clinic. Seven mothers visited the Clinic on seven occasions for these purposes.

All these figures show a reduction in number as compared with those of the previous year. This
reduction may be incidental or it may be part of the general desire of mothers to attend at hospitals for
their parturition.

Child Welfare Centre

A meeting was held each Thursday afternoon with an Assistant Divisional Medical Officer and a
Health Visitor in attendance. The Centre was held at the School Clinic in Brindle Road. Every baby in
attendance received a full medical examination and a history made of its progress and health state. This
history eventually accompanies the child to School.

Parents in attendance received advice upon infant care and management and treatment for the baby
when required given or arranged for at hospital.

During the year the number in attendance was : —

Under 1 year

1 to 2 years ...

2 to 5 years ...

Individual

Children Attendances
186 1,171

27 250

20 202

The Centre met on 49 occasions.

For the convenience of those mothers who found the journey to Brindle Road inconvenient, another
Child Welfare Centre was established at Lostock Hall some four years ago. Whilst not so popular as that
at Bamber Bridge, it has yielded good results.

Twenty-two sessions were held in 1950 and the attendances were : —

Individual

Children

Under 1 year

1 to 2 years ...

2 to 5 years ...

Attendances

251

In addition to the service provided at the Child Welfare Centre the Health Visitor visited the homes
of many babies either to ensure that the advice given at the Centre was being carried out or to visit those
mothers and babies who were unable to visit the Centres or who did not desire to do so.

The School Medical Service

In addition to routine medical and nursing inspections at the Schools, the School Clinic was available
for inspections for the treatment of Minor Ailments, for Dental Treatment and for the treatment of Eye
conditions.

Minor Ailments. Sessions were held for the treatment of conditions of the skin, ear, eye, nose
and throat, or for injuries twice weekly (Monday and Thursday). School children and those under school
age received treatment, and parents who accompanied the children received advice not only upon the
health of their children but upon their general management.

187 children of school age attended on 658 occasions.

5 children under school age attended on 11 occasions.

Ophthalmic Clinic was held fortnightly for the treatment of defective vision and squint. Dr.
Plumb of the Preston Royal Infirmary staff was the visiting Ophthalmic Surgeon under the County Scheme.

In 1950 113 children of school age attended on 182 occasions. Nine children under school age
attended on 16 occasions.

Dental Clinic. Children attending school as well as those of the pre-school age attended for
inspection and treatment. It has been noted above that expectant or nursing mothers also received
treatment.

The number of children attending for treatment was 617 and the number of attendances 1,050.

Treatment to preserve the teeth was the treatment of choice but it was necessary to extract many
carious teeth.

968 children were inspected for dental conditions at the Clinic.

23 children under 5 years of age attended for treatment on 43 occasions.

Orthopaedic Clime. This was held at Leyland and the children of this area suffering from
paralysis or deformity were referred to this Clinic. An Orthopaedic Surgeon from Manchester attended
monthly and a County Orthopaedic Nurse was in attendance weekly to give exercises, adjust appliances
or splints, or put on plaster where necessary.

Special Defects

Blind Children were sent to Henshaw’s Blind School at Manchester.

Partially Sighted Children to the Partially Sighted School at Fulwood.

Deaf and Dumb Children were sent to the Royal Cross School, Preston.

Mentally Defective Children, after certification, became the responsibility of the Regional
Hospital Board, the higher graded ones remained the responsibility of the County Council.

Tuberculosis. The dispensary for patients from this area was at Walton’s Parade, Preston. It
was provided by the County Council and the Tuberculosis Health Visitors in attendance were also
County Staff. The Medical Officer was supplied by the Regional Hospital Board.

Examinations, treatment, X-ray and light treatment and X-ray for diagnosis were given at this
dispensary.

General Diseases

It has already been noted at the beginning of this Report that the information upon the diseases
and disabilities affecting the inhabitants of the area was insufficient to render possible any scientific
comments. The Local Manager of the Ministry of National Insurance has, however, kindly supplied me

with certain figures which enable part of the health picture to be painted. These figures give the weekly
number of persons making new claims throughout the year on account of sickness or injury. It will be
appreciated that these figures relate only to the insured portion of the population and have no bearing
upon the disabilities of those below and above the insured ages. A table is given below showing the weekly
averages in each month of the year.

Number of new claims per week in : —

Sickness

Injury

January

53.2

3.0

February

52.2

2.7

March

76.0

5.2

April .

55.0

3.2

May .

37.0

1.8

June ...

39.7

1.7

July .

35.0

3.5

August

30.0

1.6

September . . .

32.7

1.7

October

31.0

1.2

November . . .

43.7

1.7

December

32.0

2.7

It is interesting to note that those months January, February, March, April and November — the
months usually associated with catarrhal diseases show the greatest number of absentees from work.
December, a month in the same group, shows a lower figure, possibly on account of the Christmas break.
In future it is hoped that it might be possible to increase the value of this table by an account of the weather
conditions prevailing in those months.

It will also be noted that March was the worst month in the year for injuries as well as for sickness
and that the three months following the holiday period, i.e., August, September and October, all show
low rates of illness and low rates of injury.

The average amount of time that each claimant was absent from work on account of sickness was
approximately 4\ weeks, so that the above table must be increased that number of times to arrive at the
number of persons absent from work in any one week. Self employed persons are not included in these
figures.

The Registrar General’s Survey of Sickness showed that in 1950 for the whole Country the average
amount of sickness per 100 persons in the quarters of the year was as given in the table below : —

Age 16 — 64

Over 65

With a

Days

With a

Days

Quarter

New

Continued

New

Continued

Illness

Incapacity

Illness

Incapacity

January, February, March

45.1

22.3

112

42.4

41.1

April, May, June .

40.0

24.3

40.0

44.8

July, August, September

39.6

23.4

38.9

44.3

October, November, December...

48.4

20.0

46.1

37.8

The illnesses were of a minor character in some 70% of these cases, but those of a more serious
character were approximately double in the over 65’s to what they were in the 16 — 64 group. In all types
of illnesses and in both age groups, females showed higher figures than males. Influenza and colds ac¬
counted for the largest number of cases in all groups and sexes, particularly in the 1st and 4th quarters of

the year. Respiratory Diseases and Rheumatism caused increased absences from work in the same quarters
and together approximated the numbers due to Influenza and Colds. Diseases of the Heart and Arteries
naturally caused more absenteeism in the older ages ; the fourth quarter of the year showed the largest
figures.

Hospitals.

The hospitals available for the more serious conditions are those under the local jurisdiction of
the Preston and District Hospitals Management Committee. They are : —

(1) Preston Royal Infirmary

(2) Sharoe Green Hospital

(3) Chorley Hospital

(4) Eaves Lane Hospital, Chorley.

In addition there are annexes attached to this group of hospitals for continuation, convalescent
or specialised treatment. One of these — Lostock Hall Convalescent Home — -is situated in this Urban
District.

All these hospitals were extensively used by patients from this area.

Outside the national hospitals there is St. Joseph’s Hospital, Mount Street, Preston, where beds are
available for Medical, Surgical and Maternity cases.

At Preston Royal Infirmary there is a unit for the use of patients suffering from Malignant Diseases
staffed by personnel from the Christie Hospital for Cancer, Manchester. Operative X-ray and Radium
treatment are available.

Cases of Venereal Disease attended the Special Clinic at Preston Royal Infirmary.

There are Maternity blocks or beds at Preston Royal Infirmary, Sharoe Green Hospital, Chorley
Hospital and Eaves Lane Hospital.

The Prevalence and Control of Infectious Disease

_ *

The hospitals available for these diseases were : — Deepdale Infectious Diseases Hospital Preston,
and Heath Charnock Infectious Diseases Hospital, Chorley. Thirty-eight cases of Scarlet Fever were
admitted to hospital in 1950. There were no deaths amongst these patients but three of the cases of Pneu¬
monia notified died.

Notifiable Diseases (other than Tuberculosis)

Notifiable

Diseases

otal Cases Notified

Total Deaths

spital

Total Cases
at all Ages

Under 1 year

1- year

3- years

5- years

10- years

15- years

25- years

45- years

Over 65 years

Total cases
removed to
Hospital

Deaths in 1

Hospital

Scarlet Fever .

• • •

Measles .

• • •

Whooping Cough

• • •

Acute Pneumonia

• • •

Dysentery .

• • •

Erysipelas .

• • •

Food Poisoning

• • •

« • •

• • •

T otal ... ...

199

« • •

Nil

The total number of cases notified was 81 less than in 1949, the reduction being in the Measles
and Whooping Cough cases, whereas the number of cases of Scarlet Fever showed an increase. There
were more cases of Pneumonia and of Food Poisoning than in the previous year.

Immunisation against Diphtheria

This is now the responsibility of the County Council, delegated to the Health Division.

100 children under school age were immunised and 33 of school age ; almost exactly the same
number as the previous year. 184 children received a reinforcing dose, 61 less than the previous year.

Doubtless other children in the district have been immunised privately in addition to these numbers
given, but there are no official records of these.

Vaccination against Smallpox

This also is the responsibility of the Health Division. From the Divisional Medical Officer’s
Report apparently 55 children received successful primary vaccination and 19 successful revaccination.

These numbers are insufficient to protect the population against the spread of Smallpox if this
disease should unfortunately appear in the district.

Tuberculosis

On the register at the end of the year there were 43 cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis and 39 cases
of Non-Pulmonary Tuberculosis which compared with 44 and 29 respectively in 1949.

There were 20 notifications in the year, 10 Respiratory and 10 Non-Respiratory and 3 deaths, all
Respiratory, occurred. Eight persons were removed from the register as “ recovered,” “ diagnosis not
confirmed ” or “ left the district.”

The table below gives an analysis of the notifications and of the deaths.

New

Cases

Deaths

Non-

Age Periods

Respiratory

Years

0 .

• • •

• 9 •

• • •

1 .

• • •

2 .

• • •

5 .

• • •

10 .

• • •

15 .

• • •

20 .

• • •

25 .

• • •

0 • •

35 .

• • •

45 .

• • •

55 .

• • •

65 .

• • •

75 and upwards

• • •

Totals

V -

v -

r - '

V, _

■

- '

• • •

- -

• • A

- /

10 10 3

Inspection and Supervision of Food

Attention has already been drawn to the adoption by the Council of the model Byelaws of the
Ministry of Food for the better hygiene of food sale and storage. Copies of these Byelaws were issued
to every retailer of food in the district accompanied by a letter explaining the provisions of these Byelaws
and the necessity of their observance. Opportunity was taken to point out that better standards of hygiene
were necessary in the handling and storage of food.

Milk and Milk Production

At the beginning of this Report, attention was drawn to the changes in the control of milk produc¬
tion at the farms and to the fact that the local authority’s position has been very much weakened at that
point — indeed almost lost.

So far as information can be obtained the number of inspections at the farm, so essential to sound
methods of hygienic production, have been very much less than in previous years when under the local
authority scheme.

Meantime the efforts of the Health Department have been devoted, as in past years, to constant
vigilance over the purity of the milk consumed by the inhabitants of the area.

In 1950 there were, so far as can be ascertained, 64 dairy farms in the district with approximately
1,200 cows, and the number of cowkeepers was also 64.

The number of milk purveyors (other than cowkeepers) was 13, 9 sited in the district and 4 outside.

One dealer was licensed to bottle Tuberculin Tested Milk and 9 to distribute it. One dealer was
licensed to distribute Accredited Milk.

There was one Pasteurising plant in the district and there were 7 dealers licensed to distribute
pasteurised milk and 1 to distribute sterilised milk.

One new dairy was built in the district during the year.

During the year 160 samples of milk were taken. Of these 139 were samples of raw milk, 70 being
from local producers and 69 from producers outside the district. 53 of the local products and 29 of the
outside were satisfactory. The remaining 57 were unsatisfactory.

21 samples of Pasteurised Milk were taken, examined and found all to be satisfactory.

All these 160 samples were examined for the presence of the Tubercle Bacillus. 156 were found to
be free and 4 contained the Bacillus (one local and 3 outside the district). All positive samples were referred
to the County Medical Officer of Health and through him to the Ministry of Agriculture for investigation.
As all these milks were pasteurised before delivery to the public it was not necessary to issue certificates
of instruction for this to be carried out.

It has already been indicated that it is no longer the duty of the local sanitary authority to inspect
the farms.

For the purpose of illustrating the work carried out by the Department over the past years the table
below is given.

Year

Samples taken from
Producers in the District

Samples taken from Produ¬
cers outside the District

Samples of Pasteurised
Milk

Total

Satis¬

factory

Unsatis¬

factory

T.B.

present

Satis¬

factory

Unsatis¬

factory

T.B.

present

Satis¬

factory

Unsatis¬

factory

T.B.

present

1940 ...

• • •

1941 ...

• • •

1942 ...

• • •

1943 ...

1944 ...

• • •

134

1945 ...

• • •

103

1946 ...

100

1947 ...

128

1948 ...

197

1949 ...

168

1950 ...

160

Total

375

172

179

264

128

• • •

1118

Tuberculosis Order, 1938

The four samples of milk found to contain the Tubercle Bacillus were reported to the Ministry of
Agriculture through the channels already indicated. After investigation and frequent sampling four cows
were found to be infected and were slaughtered under the Order. No cows had been sold from the herds
prior to the investigations and sampling proved all the rest of the cows in the herds to be free of the Bacillus.

Ice Cream

As in past years strict supervision was kept upon the purity of the product and the conditions under
which it is served, sold and stored.

A survey was made of all the establishments which manufactured ice cream in the district, 10 in
number. Where any defects of preparation, storage or serving was detected it was pointed out and the
remedy suggested at the time of inspection.

The number of retailers selling loose ice cream was 13. 20 dealers sold prewrapped ice cream. The
number of manufacturers outside the district who supplied retailers in the district was 10.

Efforts were made to persuade all dealers in ice cream, particularly those serving loose ice cream, to
sterilise their utensils in suitable detergents and most of them complied with this request.

The table below shows the results of the samples taken : —

Wrapped Ice Cream

Loose Ice Cream

Month

Number

Grade

Number

Grade

III

June .

July .

August .

September .

—

October .

—

T otals ... ... ... ...

Milk in Schools Scheme

All the schools in the district received daily supplies of milk. Practically all this milk was heat
treated.

All the samples tested were free from the Tubercle Bacillus and bacteriologically satisfactory.

Meat and Other Foods

No cows or sheep were slaughtered in the district in 1950.

Condemnation of Food Unfit for Human Consumption

The total amount of food found to be unfit for human consumption during the year was 19 cwts.
24 lbs. This amount included 18 cwts. 25 lbs. of tinned food and 1 cwt. 26 lbs. of meat and other foods.

Food and Pure Drugs (Adulteration) Act, 1928

Samples were taken by the Sampling Officers of the County Public Health Department, (the
County Council is the responsible authority) and the results are given below.

A total of 130 samples was obtained, of these 105 were milk and the 25 others comprised : —

3 Arrowroot
2 Borax

2 Parrish’s Chemical Food
1 Beef Sausage

1 Aspirin Tablets

2 Ice Cream
1 Lard

1 Margarine
1 Sponge Cake

1 Lemon Curd
1 Olive Oil

1 Bicarbonate of Soda
1 Self Raising Flour
1 Carrots, canned

1 Flour

2 Bacon
1 Cheese
1 Sugar

1 Eccles Cake

All the above
the following : —

Sample

1 informal milk ...

1 Lard .

1 informal milk ...
1 informal milk ...

1 informal milk ...

samples were cernnea

Result of Analysis Action Taken

Deficient 2.3% solids-not-fat. The freezing Formal samples obtained,
point indicated the presence of 5.3% of
extraneous water.

Deficient 2.9% solids-not-fat. The freezing Formal samples obtained,
point indicated the presence of 6.7% of
extraneous water.

Consisted of Cooking Fat . Vendor communicated with

Deficient 3.3% fat .

Deficient 2.3% solids-not-fat. Freezing point
indicated the presence of 3.5% of extra¬
neous water.

Deficient 3.5% solids-not-fat. Freezing point
indicated the presence of 3.5% of extra¬
neous water. J

Vendor notified.

► Same Vendor.

Formal samples obtained.

Water Engineer’s Report for the Year 1950
Supply of Water. From Manchester and Preston Corporations.

Area Supplied. The Statutory area of compulsory supply covers the area of Walton-le-Dale.
In addition supplies in bulk are furnished to Chorley Rural District Council, (Parishes of Hoghton,
Brindle, and Cuerden).

The Estimated Population Supplied

Walton-le-Dale . . 14,972

Gregson Lane (Brindle Parish) . 72

15,044

The remaining out of District consumers are all supplied with water by meter.

Quantity Supplied

Gallons

Taken from Thirlmere at both Meter Houses ...
Consumed by meter en route to Reservoir

237,029,000

1,374,000

Total Thirlmere delivered in District
Taken by meter from Preston Corporation

235,655,000

16,929,000

Total Quantity of Water delivered in District .

Total Quantity of Water consumed by meter outside District

252,584,000

5,188,000

Total Quantity of Water retained in Reservoirs, Dec. 31st 1950

247,396,000

552,000

246,844,000

Total Quantity of Water consumed by meter inside district . 93,200,000

Total Quantity of Water supplied for all purposes .

Total Quantity of Water supplied for all purposes per day . .

Total Quantity of Water supplied per head per day for all purposes ...
Total Quantity of Water supplied per head including trade ...

153,644,000

420,939

28.115

45.132

Distribution

During the year the following lengths of Spun Iron Water Main have been laid : —

4 inch Spun Iron Watermain ... • . 370 yds.

3 inch Spun Iron Watermain . . 146 yds.

2 inch Spun Iron Watermain . 27 yds.

Total number of Ball Hydrant Conversions to Valve type Hydrants ... 70
Total number of connections made to the Council’s Watermains ... 78

The usual flushing out and cleansing of watermains and services was carried out during the year.

During the year the fixing of Fire Hydrant Identification Posts and Plates was commenced.

Waste Detection

During the year the usual night and day inspections were carried out for the detection of waste

water.

1092 Inspections of houses and other property.

844 Taps were rewashered free of cost.

244 Cisterns were rewashered free of cost.

158 Burst water services were dealt with.

15 Burst water mains were repaired.

Quality of the Water

In the year two samples of water were taken for examination : —

One for Chemical Examination ;

One for Bacteriological Examination.

In both cases the supply being given as satisfactory.

Drains and Sewerage

The area was well sewered but some of the outskirts were still unsewered. The sewage works were
overloaded and the design not up to modern standards.

All the new housing sites were linked up to the system.

The plans for alterations and extensions of the whole system have not yet been put into operation.
In spite of the wet year, no flooding was experienced.

Closet Accommodation

During the year there were 33 conversions to water closets, 2 from privies, 16 from pails and 15
from waste water.

The table below analyses the position and illustrates the great improvement that has been made in
the past few years.

1910

1918

1939

1949

1950

No of privy closets ... .

... 621

255

No. of pail closets .

... 1093

973

165

139

123

No. of waste water closets .

... 345

327

264

211

196

No. of fresh water closets .

... 694

1267

3670

4010

4101

No. of houses with dry ashpits

... 1499

994

No. of houses with ash pails

... 1058

1632

4012

4302

4362

Public Cleansing

The service continued to work satisfactorily throughout the year. Motor vehicles were used only.
The refuse was disposed on the Council’s tip and controlled. Extension of the tip will soon be required,
The details of the work undertaken and amount of waste dealt with will be found in Mr. Baron’s report
which is appended.

Sanitary Inspections

The number of inspections made in 1950 was 2,113. The number of defects found under the
Public Health Acts was 292 and 274 were abated.

Factories and Bakehouses

78 visits were made to factories in the district. 1 1 defects under Sec. 1-7 of the Act were discovered
and 8 of these were abated. The canteens attached to certain mills were inspected regularly.

All the bakehouses were inspected regularly.

Playing Fields

These were available in Higher Walton, Lostock Hall, and Walton-le-Dale. The temporary playing
fields at Bamber Bridge opened in 1948 were also available.

Housing and Housing Conditions

New houses erected in the district in 1950 numbered 70, 58 by the Council and 12 by other persons.
The number of unsatisfied applicants at the end of the year was 410, 350 from residents in the district and
60 from outside. 26 houses were in course of erection by the Council, and 7 by private enterprise at the
end of the year.

The future programme contemplates the provision of 150 houses in Meanygate, 12 houses in Brown
Lane, 6 in Highfield Avenue and 2 in Hoghton Lane.

The number of dwelling houses inspected for defects was 425 and for this purpose 802 visits were
made. Three houses were found to be unfit for human habitation and 9 not reasonably fit. Four houses
were rendered fit as the result of informal action and 9 others were rendered fit as the result of notices
served. Under the Public Health Acts 49 notices were served and 44 defects abated by the owners.

Demolition orders were served on 3 houses. Ten were demolished as the result of these and orders
in previous years.

It was not yet allowed to schedule Clearance Areas in 1950.

In addition 68 houses were disinfected for Infectious Diseases or for vermin. Further details will
be found in Mr. Baron’s report.

Private Streets and Back Passages

The following streets and back passages were made up in the period under review : —

Rosemeade Avenue

Mayfield Avenue

Ashworth Street (done privately)

Arrangements have been made to curb, drain and make up : —

Cedar Avenue
Laburnum Avenue
School Street

Four Fields (will be done privately).

Schools

There are eleven schools in the area. Most of them are old but with the exception of two are
satisfactory for light and ventilation. The school playgrounds are restricted in area. Two schools are to
be built in the future which will relieve the overcrowding which at present exists in the schools.

Thirteen visits of inspection were made to the schools in 1950. Sanitary conveniences at two of the
Church Schools were improved. At one school the conveniences were entirely rebuilt and at the other
the structure only was rebuilt for the girls and infants.

One school kitchen at Lostock Hall was inspected regularly.

Inspections

The number of inspections made in 1950 have been noted under the respective sections. They
have been numerous and at frequent intervals, a prime necessity if standards are to be preserved. Defects
discovered were usually abated readily and it was not necessary to take legal action for any defect in 1950.

New Legislation in 1950

Shops Act 1950 (Consolidation of previous Shops Acts).

Milk Regulations (Special Designations) Amendment Regulations.

Milk Regulations (Special Designations) Pasteurised Milk.

Food and Drugs (Milk Dairies and Artificial) Act.

Public Health (Acute Poliomyelitis, Acute Encephalitis and Meningococcal Infection) Regulations
1950.

Reports Appended

(1) Report by the Chief Sanitary Inspector.

(2) Report by the Surveyor.

Report Included

(1) Report by the Water Engineer.

I desire to express my appreciation of the loyalty, good work and co-operation of the members of
my staff. To all other officials of the authority, whose help has been always willingly given and whose
co-operation I have received, I express my thanks.

To the members of the Council from whom I have always received unfailing courtesy, encouragement
and help I pay this grateful tribute.

I have the honour to be.

Your obedient Servant,

August, 1950. G. G. WRAY.

THE SANITARY INSPECTOR’S REPORT
for the Year 1950

To the Chairman and Members of the Walton-le-Dale Urban District Council

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have pleasure in submitting the following report on the Sanitary Work carried out by the Health
Department during the year 1950 : —

One of the important aspects of the work concerns the essential repairs to dwellinghouses. The
difficulties of getting the work carried out have increased during the year.

The difficulties are many and have multiplied during the past six years since the war terminated.
Not only were the majority of the working class houses in the district neglected during the war, due to
insufficient labour and materials but this problem is still with us. Consequently complaints from occupiers
have increased and although the builders were able for a time to cope with the repairs the position has
become somewhat complex due to the large firms being engaged on large new buildings and housing and
the smaller firms having a full quota of minor new and reconstruction work which is more profitable.
In consequence appeals to these men to repair ordinary dwelling houses are very seldom answered.

Whilst owners of property have in the main a desire to keep their property in a reasonable state of
repair and are certainly anxious to carry out urgent work, their appeal to us to find them suitable contractors
has only been partly successful. Quite a considerable time is spent in persuading these contractors to
undertake this kind of work.

Improvement in the speed in which repairs and renovations are carried out, will not be altered,
until there is an increase in Building Labour, and material, and the Builders are freed from controls in the
Building and renovation of dwelling houses, and competition is restored.

Closet Conversion

In the period under review 16 pails and 15 waste water closets and 2 privi middens were converted
to W.C.s.

The Closet accommodation in the district at the end of the year was : — -

Fresh Water Closets — 4043. Pail Closets — 123.

Waste Water Closets — 196. Privy Closets— -2.

Sanitary Inspectors Visits

Number of inspections of dwelling houses .

. 346

Number of re-inspections of dwelling houses .

. 261

Number of inspections of other houses (Verminous)

. 38

Number of inspections of schools .

. 11

Number of inspections of dairies and milkshops

. 29

Number of inspections of food premises .

. 22

Number of inspections of food .

. 13

Number of inspections of factories .

. 84

Number of inspections of drainage work .

. 558

Number of general inspections .

. 103

Number of salvage inspections .

. 128

Number of drains tested ...

. 75

Number of visits in connection with infectious disease

. 34

Number of visits in connection with closet conversions

... 304

Inspections of ice cream premises.. .

. 71

Number of inspections of smoke nuisances .

Total .

... ... 2113

FOOD

The following is a Summary of Food found to be unfit for human consumption during the year :

Tins. Description.

cwts.

qrs.

lbs

ozs.

11 Evaporated Milk .

33 Condensed Milk .

4 Luncheon Meat .

3 Minced Beef Loaf .

2 Pork Beef Loaf . . .

8 Peas .

26 Jam .

2 Macaroni Cheese .

7 Plums .

1 Apple Puree .

1 Salmon .

276 Cherries (Stoned) .

1 Carrots .

14J

1 Shoulder Ham .

1 Crab Paste .

377

Other Foods —

2 Bottles of Vinegar .

18 Boxes of Dates .

1 Jar Pickles ... .

1 Jar Beetroot .

1 Packet Creamola Dessert .

->4

1 Ham . . .

9 JL* otnl ••• ••• ••• ••• •••

T. C. qrs. lbs. ozs.

— 18 2 25 15 of Tins of Food.

— — 1 26 If of Meat and other food.

Total ... — 19 0 24

Milk

Summary of information with reference to Dairies and Licensed Purveyors, and the results of the
examination of samples of Milk.

Number of Dairies in the district . 7

Number of shops were milk is sold . 5

Number of Principal Licences issued for sale of Pasteurised Milk ... 11

Number of Licences issued for sale of Sterilized Milk . 1

Number of Supplementary Licences issued . 4

Analysis of Samples of Milk

The total number of samples of milk taken in the district was 160, 139 of these samples were of
raw milk and 21 were of pasteurised milk.

Bacteriological Examination

139 were taken for bacteriological examination
70 were taken from producers in the district and of these
53 were satisfactory and
17 were unsatisfactory

69 were taken at the Milk Marketing Board from Producers outside the district. Of these,

29 were satisfactory and

40 were unsatisfactory.

Tuberculosis Examination

139 samples of Milk were examined for Tuberculosis.

70 of the samples were taken from Producers in the district and of these

1 was found to be Tubercular.

69 were taken from Producers outside the district and of these
3 were found to be Tubercular.

in addition 21 samples of Pasteurised Milk were taken for the full examination ; all were found
to be satisfactory.

Disinfections

Number of dwelling houses disinfected . 57

Number of parcels of bedding disinfected . 636

Number of beds disinfected . 110

Number of books disinfected . 19

Number of beds destroyed . . ... 6

Number of schools disinfected . 0

made good

Summary of notices served and work completed in compliance with the notices

Defective gutters made good
Defective roofs and rain-water conductors
Defective sinks made good
Defective floors made good
Defective yard pavement made good
Defective window frames made good
Defective plaster work made good

Dampness remedied .

Miscellaneous defects remedied ...

Defective W.C.s .

Defective pail closets converted to W.C.s
Defective closet buildings made good
Premises redrained to sewer
Additional W.C.s provided

Dust bins provided .

Chimney stacks rebuilt .

15
17

16
9
6

5
3
2

Dry rot irradicated . 4

Defective doors repaired . 2

Washing accommodation . 1

Defective drains remedied 128

Number of privi middens converted to W.C.s . 2

Accumulation of Refuse removed 1

Factories Act (improved sanitary accommodation) . ... 8

Total

••• ••• •••

• • • • • • •••

... 283

Notices Served

Complied with

Outstanding

Total

Formal .

—

Informal .

... 170

189

Total

... 191

210

Rats and Mice Destruction

Staff. There is one fully trained Rodent Operator employed part-time on this work.

The work of surveying and treatment of premises has increased during the year.

Over 503 visits have been paid to dwellings and business premises and poisoning campaigns have
been carried out on 70 premises.

Council Premises. The Refuse Tip at Hennel Lane has been treated on 6 occasions and the
Sewage Works twice. 10 per cent, of all sewer manholes in the district have been treated for Rat Infesta¬
tion and over 100 baits laid.

The sewers are free from any infestation and accordingly an exemption certificate has been granted
by the Ministry of Agriculture for twelve months.

Divisional Control. During the year three meetings have been attended of the Rodent Control
Workable Area Committee No. 9. Report on the progress made and difficulties met with were discussed.
Recommendation and adjustments in rodent control have been issued from time to time by the Infestation
Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Poisons and Baits. The baits used were sausage rusk, stale bread mash and sugar meal. The
poisons include Zinc Phosphide, Arsenic and Red Squill.

Over 150 lbs. of bait and 3 lbs. of poison were used on Rodent Control.

House Refuse— Collection and Disposal and Salvage Work

The refuse and salvage is collected from six separate villages. The A.R.P. garage at the Old Isolation
Hospital was used for the storing, sorting, and baling of salvage, and Hennel Lane Tip for the disposal of
the refuse. This procedure will continue until the new salvage building which is in course of erection at
Hennel Lane Tip is completed.

The control method of tipping has been in operation for some years.

The whole of the Refuse and Salvage Collection, including the drag work, is carried out by three
motor vehicles.

The following table shows the amount of work carried out by the motor vehicles.

Year

Vehicle

Employed

No. of days

Approximate
Weight of Refuse
Collected

Total Miles
Travelled

Average
Miles per
Gallon

1950

One Dodge
Two Karrier
Motors

790

4788 Tons

23857

8.77

The following is the analysis of the Cost of Collection and Disposal of House Refuse and the col¬
lection and disposal of Salvage, showing the credit for Salvage for the year 1950.

Cost per Day

Total Cost

£ s. d.

Dodge Petrol Wagons .

877 11 1

••• ••• ••• • • • ••• ••• ••• •••

1033 9 3

Wages and Salaries (including Bonus, Superannuation and

Insur^ncc^ • • • # • • • • • • • • • • • » • • • • •

3931 17 9

Loan Clisr^cs • • • ••• • • • • • • • • • ••• • • •

218 16 11

Materials and Miscellaneous Accounts .

143 12 2

Establishment .

202 8 1

Gross Total Cost ...

£6440 2 0

Less Sale of Salvage Materials . .

2108 15 7

Less other Credits .

— —

50 12 0

£2159 7 7

Net Cost • 9 • ••• ••• •••

£4280 14 5

Summary of Analysis.

Year

Ending

Gross

Expenditure

Gross

Income

Nett

Expenditure

Population

No. of
Houses
Scavenged

Nett Cost
Per 1,000
Houses

Nett Cost
Per House
Per Week

£ s. d.

31st March,
1951

6440 2 0

2159 7 7

4280 14 5

14900

4472

£957

4.4

Comparative Cost of House Refuse Collection for the Years 1922, 1942, and 1950

Year

No. of
Houses
Scavenged

Gross cost
of

collection

and

disposal

Amount
received
for salvage
and other
credits

Nett cost
of

collection

and

disposal

Wages of house refuse
collectors and motor drivers

Collectors

Drivers

1922

2823

£2205

nil

£2205

£2 per week

£2/16 per week

1942

4126

£3044

£1158

£1885

£3/6/9 per wk.

£4 per week

1950

4472

£6440

£2159

£4280

£5/9/6 per wk.

£5/15/6 per wk.

Collection and Sales of Salvage.

The following table shows the tonnage and materials sold, and the amounts received for Salvage

during the year 1950 : —

Paper — Newspaper, Magazines, Mixed Paper .

Textiles — Rags, Cloth, Carpets, Sacking and String ...

Ferrous Metals — Cast Light and Heavy Iron .

Non-Ferrous Metals —

Copper, Brass, Aluminium, Lead .

Kitchen Waste .

Miscellaneous Sales .

T otal ... ... ..<

Bales

qrts.

lbs.

£ s.

2641

... 194

... 1208 4

165

... 10

... 187 16

—

... 14

... 43 11

A • • X

... 160 10

—

... 190

... 504 13

—

3 19

2806

... 412

£2108 15

The Council commenced the collection of salvage in May, 1940. The following table shows the tonnage
sold and the amounts received each year by the sales of salvaged materials : —

Year

qrts. lbs.

1940 ...

... 129

426

1941 ...

... 194

828

1942 ...

... 280

... 1148

1943 ...

... 376

... 1424

1944 ...

... 463

... 1576

1945 ...

... 491

... 1607

1946 ...

... 335

... 1360

1947 ...

... 398

... 1685

1948 ...

... 510

... 2211

1949 ...

... 490

... 2343

1950 ...

• • • • • •

... 412

... 2108

Total

• • •

... 4082

£16723 14

I cannot conclude my report without paying tribute to Mr. G. N. Corbishley who has carried out
his work conscientiously and with zeal. All the duties I have assigned to him have been done with thorough¬
ness and correctness and I have no hesitation in saying he is one of the best assistants that I have had under
my control.

I am,

Your Obedient Servant,

Council Offices,
Bamber Bridge.

NICHOLAS BARON,

Chief Sanitary Inspector and
Cleansing Superintendent.

Factories Act, 1937 and 1948.

1. — Inspections for purposes of provisions as to health (including inspections made by Sanitary
Inspectors).

M/c

Line

No.

(2)

Number

(3)

Number of

M/c

L ne
No.

(7)

Premises

(1)

Inspections

(4)

Written

Notices

(5)

Occupiers

prosecuted

(6)

(i) Factories in which Sections 1, 2, 3, 4
and 6 are to be enforced byLocal
Authorities .

(ii) Factories not included in (i) in which
Section 7 is enforced by the Local
Authority .

103

(iii) Other Premises in which Section 7 is
enforced by the Local Authority
(excluding out- workers’ premises) . . .

—

- —

—

f JL' otal ••• ••• •••

130

2. — Cases in which defects were found.

M/c

Line

No.

(2)

Number of cases in which defects were found

Number of

M/c

Line

No.

(8)

Particulars

(1)

Found

(3)

Remedied

(4)

Refei

To H.M.
Inspector

(5)

■red

By H.M.
Inspector

(6)

cases in
which

prosecutions

were

instituted

(7)

Want of cleanliness (S.l) .

None

Overcrowding (S.2) .

—

None

Unreasonable temperature (S.3) .

—

None

Inadequate ventilation (S.4) .

—

None

Ineffective drainage of floors (S.6)

—

None

Sanitary Conveniences (S.7)

(a) insufficient .

None

(b) Unsuitable or defective .

None

—

None

Other offences against the Act (not in¬
cluding offences relating to Outwork)

—

None

T otal ... ... ...

None

ENGINEER AND SURVEYOR’S REPORT

The following is a brief report covering the year 1st January, 1950 to 31st December, 1950 : —

1. Highways

Owing to the financial policy of the Government and the Council, the only improvement work of
any magnitude carried out was to Hennel Lane (Class III Road) and consisted of a first instalment of the
scheme to improve Hennel Lane.

Land was purchased by the County Council to enable the dangerous double bend at the Chorley
Road end of Hennel Lane to be removed, but the only work authorised was the erection of the boundary
wall and the laying of a footpath on the north side of Hennel Lane. A great deal more work will be necessary
before this part of the road is satisfactory for the traffic which it carries.

The minimum of maintenence work authorised was carried out at a cost of approximately £2,700
for Class I Roads, £1,000 for Class II, £1,000 for Class III and £6,000 for Unclassified roads.

A small amount of signposting and street naming and guard rail erection was included. Preliminary
Schemes for the improvement of all classified roads were prepared by the County Council in consultation
with your Engineer and Surveyors.

2. Private Street Works

During the year the Council’s policy of making up under the Private Street Works Act, 1892 the
maximum number of streets permitted by the Government, was followed and good progress was made.

The making up of Highfield Avenue (part), Moon Street (part), Prospect Avenue, Rosemead
Avenue and Mayfield Avenue was completed by the Council and Ashworth Street was made up privately.
All these streets were then adopted as Public Highways.

The statutory preliminary work was carried out for Cedar Avenue, Laburnum Avenue and School
Street and in addition a scheme was prepared to enable Messrs. Horsley Smith & Co., (W. & N.) Ltd. to
make up Fourfields privately.

3. Public Footpaths

The preliminary work in connection with the survey of public footpaths required by the National
Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949 was begun.

The preliminary work concerning the extinguishment of a public footpath leading from Brindle
Road to Woodlands Avenue was done.

4. Surface Water Drainage

A first instalment of the surface water drainage scheme for Hennel Lane was carried out.

5. Lighting of Classified Roads

Provisional schemes and estimates for lighting to modern standards were prepared for classified
roads, in order to provide preliminary information for the County Council’s Bill.

The estimates were : — Class I roads £8,900 ; Class II roads £6,440 (both standard “ A ” lighting) ;
Class III roads £6,085 (standard “ B ” lighting). Annual maintenance costs for these schemes were
estimated at £5,360.

The clause in the County Council’s Bill which was to enable grants to be made for this work has
since been withdrawn.

It should be noted that with the exception of Trunk Road A. 6 the greater part of the Council’s
street lighting is well below recognised standards. As Private Street Works and Housing Estate roadworks
are carried out, the lighting in them is made to conform with Standard “ B ” lighting.

6. Sewerage and Sewage Disposal

During the year work was carried out to enable some of the private septic tanks to be abandoned
and the house drains connected to the sewerage system.

A surface water sewer in Cuerdale Lane was converted to a foul sewer to enable all the septic tanks
on property at the south side of Cuerdale Lane to be abandoned.

Septic tanks serving four houses in Highfield Avenue and one house in Cuerdale Lane were con¬
nected to the sewers.

Some small improvements were made at the Sewage disposal works.

Agreement was reached with Chorley R.D.C. to enable adjacent areas to be drained to the Council’s
sewers in Walton-le-Dale.

7. Trade Effluent

Difficulties arose over the disposal of the effluent from the North Western Gas Board’s Works at
Lostock Hall and a Trade Effluent Notice was served on the Council by the Board.

After much investigation, the Council refused to accept the effluent and the problem was referred
to the Minister of Health, but has not been decided at the time of writing.

8. Housing

The construction of Withy Trees Estate roads and sewers was in progress during the year.

The layout of houses, roads and sewers was prepared for Meanygate Housing Estate (approximately
150 houses) and arrangements made for the construction of the first 20 houses.

Maintenance work continued on the Council’s housing estates and the first post-war estate was
re-painted.

A scheme to convert the buildings at the former Training College into housing accommodation was
prepared, but the scheme was not proceeded with owing to the high cost and to difficulties of tenure.

9. Playing Fields

A revised layout was prepared for Higher Walton King George V Memorial Playing Fields and
approved by the Council.

A revised layout was prepared for the proposed Gregson Lane Playing Fields and approved by
the Council and the Ministry of Education. A provisional offer of grant was made by the Ministry and the
first steps towards acquiring the site were taken by the Council.

10. Plans and Planning

The Preliminary Plan for Lancashire was published and the preliminary Town Map for Walton-
le-Dale was prepared.

During the year applications relating to 115 permanent buildings and 48 temporary buildings were
dealt with.

11. Building Licensing

During the year, all work to buildings estimated to cost over £100 (with certain exceptions where
the limit was £500) required to be licensed either by the Council, in the case of domestic buildings, or by
the Ministry of Works.

Nineteen licences to a total value of £4,995 10s. were issued by the Council, and 45 licences to a
total value of £72,488 were issued by the Ministry of Works.

In addition 9 licences to a total value of £14,390 were issued by the Council for the erection of
houses for private occupation.

12. Transport

The Engineer and Surveyor’s Department has two waggons which during the year ran a total of
18,544 miles (Karrier 8,008, Dodge 10,536) using 2,099 gallons of petrol (Karrier 785, Dodge 1,314)
shewing an average petrol consumption of 10.3 miles per gallon on the Karrier and 8.06 miles per gallon
on the Dodge.

STANLEY RACE,

A.M.I.C.E., M.I.Mun.E., A.M.I.W.E.,

Engineer and Surveyor.

■ -i , . ,

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